cover story

Noun

cover story (plural cover stories)

1. A story included in a publication that is highlighted on the front cover.
   • We didn't even think it was that important, at first, and yet by the end of the week it had become the cover story of the next issue.
   • It's ironic that the day before the Prime Minister confirmed the go-ahead for HS2, RAIL 898 hit my doormat with a cover story 'Is reopening the GC a viable alternative to HS2?'2020 May 6, “Letters: Open Access”, in Rail, page 48
2. A fictitious account that is intended to hide one's real motive.
   • The cover story of an intelligence agent posing as a foreign service officer is called a diplomatic cover in the trade.
   • "This is just a cover story," Clay says to O5-8, not taking his eyes off Marion. "It's a good one, but she's had it worked out in advance."
     "Clay, lose the piece," says the O5.
     Grudgingly, Clay does so.2008–2021, qntm, “We Need To Talk About Fifty-Five”, in There Is No Antimemetics Division, →ISBN, page 9
3. (broadly) Any fictitious account used to hide, distract from, or falsely explain the truth which one intends to conceal.